"Thanks.." Natasha smiled at him slightly as he dropped her off, his expression that same, controlled smile as before, "I should get inside.. But please be sure to get home safely.." "Promise," he nodded slightly, reaching down to pull the phone from his pocket and waving the tiny device toward her, as if in mocking comfort, "I'll be sure to report my safe arrival as well.." "Be safe, Natsume," she was suddenly serious, and he paused at the look of severe concentration on her face, "I still have a really bad feeling, so please.."

"I'll be careful," he spoke again, but this time it was much more mellow, much more warm, "Now get inside," his voice was abruptly back to being brotherly/bossy and touched with Tsundere salt, "I don't need you getting sick, too.." "Aye, Sir-!" She saluted him mockingly before she made her way inside, her personal bag of manga at her hip and her shoulder bag falling down her arm, caught at her elbow as she tread her way into the house. "Honey~! I'm hooome~!"

"Welcome back, Onee-chan~!" A familiar, overly hyper voice caressed her ears as she came into the living room, an immediate smile lighting up her face as she laid eyes on the wonderfully energetic Wataru. "Oh~!" his eyes seemed to light up on the bag in her hands, and she smiled, moving until she collapsed onto the couch beside him as he became even more hyper, nearly bouncing in his seat with his excitement, "Is that manga-?! Gimme- Gimme-!" "Hey-Hey-!" Natasha mimicked his whiney tone with her own grin, holding the bag up and out of his reach, though with their only slight difference in sitting height, it was almost laughable, "Chill~! Chill~! I got you some-! But I have mine in here, too-!" She barely got the reprieve of his energy to slip a single book out of the bag, handing it to him carefully before closing it once again.. If her brothers caught wind of what she was doing.. ...Or reading...

"Oah~!" Wataru cheered, eyes lighting up at the shonen manga, the one she didn't specifically look for, and didn't completely pull out of her ass for her editor's second series proposition.. "It looks so cool~!" "Unfortunately I haven't read that one yet, so I'm expecting feedback," she pinched his cheek playfully before she tucked the bag beneath her arm, patting herself on the back for her acting. Yusuke's eyes watching her from the opposite couch with an expression of confusion, "You didn't get the books to Azuza?" "Oh no, I did.. It's just that, Tsubaki was there.. And I didn't want to impinge on the moment.." she shook her head, jerking her chin to the bag casually, "These are the personal purchases I made.." "Oh, so he did get around to it," Yusuke murmured, approval lacing his tone. Ukyo also contributed to the conversation, but Wataru was already diving into his new manga..

"Oh?" Ukyo lowered his paper, but he had only been half paying attention in the first place, "He did? I'm glad to hear it." He set the paper completely down, and his eyes lit up, as if he just remembered something, true to her predictions, he gave her an expression cross between polite informant an apologetic timing, "That just reminded me.." She knew it- "To apply for a passport, you'd need an official copy of the family registry, so I had one sent over to the offices.. Please pick it up when you have time." "Thank you very much, Ukyo," Natasha grinned, rubbing the back of her neck in slight embarrassment, "I'm still clueless about how the whole passport thing works.. So this really helps.."

"Onee-chan~! Onee-chan~!" Wataru cheered, hugging her side as he smiled up at her, "Thank you for the manga~!" "It's fine, Taru-chan~" Natasha said in a sing-song voice, nuzzling his face with her own as she giggled, god he was so cute.. "I'm an otaku~! So this stuff is fun for me~!"

"I never would have guessed you were an otaku," Yusuke mentioned after a few minutes of the two cuddling. He's pushed away the annoyance of watching Wataru snuggle his sister's chest.. Instead forcing himself to focus on something else. "You were always so quiet and reserved in school.."

"Welp," Natasha shrugged, leaning back on the couch with a slight frown, "I'm not one to deal with people outside of my inner circle.. I can be polite.. But.. if a stranger oversteps a line, it kind of flicks a switch for me to start caring about that person.." She paused for a moment, before she perked up, her eyes snapping to him with a grin, "-Like you-!" He jerked in surprise at that, and she lifted her hand, pointing to the nape of her neck, her expression thoughtful, "Didn't you get surrounded by a bunch of jerks at school.. And when I finally got to talk to you.. I complimented your hair..?"

He remembered that.

He definitely remembered that.

So how the hell does she still remember that?!

"U-Un.." He gave a slight nod, his face immediately flushing a bright crimson. Natasha continued to smile to him, but a soft chime from her pocket drew her attention away, a song in a different language playing until she flicked her phone open. Her eyes slid across the screen, and he swallowed as he watched her smile fade into a thoughtful look. She nodded to herself, and flicked the phone closed, smiling once more as she pet Wataru's salmon colored hair, "Well, it's been a long day.. I think I'll rest until dinner.."

"Of course," Ukyo nodded, standing with a slight smile on his lips, "I'll send someone to get you." "Laters~!" Natasha waved once more to her brothers, as she turned to leave, holding out her arm so Juli could climb quickly up to her shoulder. She was looking forward to that nap...

"Bao… I'm getting tired of this shit…."

The white haired female, clad in only a flowing, sleeveless white ball gown, and a pair of sterling silver colored stilettos, had been walking through a never ending entrance hall for what felt like the past two hours... It was the same, bright red carpet.. The same shining black tiles.. The same shining black walls.. The same clear, reflective arched glass windows.. The same dark, glittering sky.. The same full, blood red moon.. The same shining silver pillars.. The same giant-ass-door at the end of the hallway that kept getting further away-! "I"M GETTING TIRED OF THIS SHIT-!" She roared, falling to her knees and face planting into the carpet, "FUCK THIS SHIT-! I AM TAKING A NAP-!"

She closed her eyes gently and curled up her body, her arms wrapping the length of the dress up around her legs so she was protected from pervy eyes. She sighed softly, and relaxed into the thin, yet oddly comfortable aisle rug, letting her heartbeat fill her ears and calm her down. It wasn't thirty seconds later that she felt foreign breath on her cheek, and a cold finger run delicately down the side of her face. She shuddered from the tips of her toes to the roots of her hair, her eyes popping open immediately to see a person she knew for an absolute fact she'd never seen in her life.. This one or the last...

He had bright orange hair, and rather pale skin, with a dark purple, almost black, flowery-vine-like tattoo curling around his right eye, down his jaw, down his neck, and disappearing into the high collar of his jacket. Despite the high collar however, that seemed to be the only part of the piece other than the sleeves, his "Shirt" if one could call it that, being a sort of male corset bound tightly around his waist, with a single, starched white puff of a liner beneath it, covering up his chest, but exposing the full view of his collar bones. The male's eyes were a bright fuchsia color, the same as his thin line of lip paint, and he had a set of fangs, if his grin was anything to go by. He had tight, black leather pants, and a pair of shiny, white-grey boots. His sleeves tapered off around his middle knuckle, where a silver ring held the fabric in place on each hand. His hair was shaped in a cross between Uchiha Sasuke of Naruto and Hitsugaya Toushiro of Bleach. His expression better fitting of Aido of Vampire Knight. Cue shudder.

"What are you doing?" he asked casually, his eyes lidded lazily and his sultry smirk displaying a slight fang. "The party's up ahead.." "Party…?" she repeated slowly, sitting up with focused, controlled movements. She took care to keep her dress locked tight around her legs, but the stranger seemed focused completely on her eyes. "What party..?"

"The one announcing Lady Natasha's arrival, of course," he seemed surprised now, his eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline as he gave her a dumbfounded look, "Surely you were invited, otherwise you wouldn't be here.." He looked thoughtful for a moment, putting a hand to his chin in thought as he spoke, seemingly to himself, showing off his black lacquered nails, "Then again.. Sir Bao has summoned people at random in the past.." "BAO is here-?!" she repeated sharply, and he jerked back to attention at her sharp look, "Where is that asshole-?!" "Sir Bao..?" he repeated slowly, his eyes drawing nearly closed in his confused squint, head tilting ever so slightly, "I've never met someone to speak his name so callously.." Nevermind that, then," Natasha huffed sharply, before taking a deep calming breath, and giving the male a polite smile, "What is your name?"

He blinked at her again, stunned about something, though she couldn't decipher what, per say.. Suddenly, he perked right up, and he almost looked younger, his hands clasping between his legs as he sat across from her, still on his knees, "My name is Jax-! It's a pleasure to meet you, miss..?"

"I'll hold off on my name for now," she evaded the question calmly, before shifting her legs, getting to her feet with ease before holding out a hand for the boy. He blinked at his slowly, unsure of what she wanted, and it was clear on his face. She sighed, hiding her eyeroll, and reached down lower, grasping his hands and hauling him up off the floor to stand with her, almost angry about finding out she was once again the midget, and he stood about a half foot taller than her. "It's nice to meet you, Jax," she started calmly, his surprise and deadpanned expression stuck on his face as she stared at him. She touched him.. TOUCHED HIM... And she wasn't sweating.. Or weak.. What was this..? "But I seem to be stuck in this hallway.. I've been trying to get to the door for a while now, but It seems I'm unable to reach it." She seemed not to notice his gawking, so he attempted to control his expression.

He blinked away his extreme curiosity, before he gave her a small, curious smile, "Huh.. Would you like an escort, then, my lady..?" "Please don't call me that," she deadpanned, and his eyebrows raised in absolute shock. What noble didn't use the title? Better yet, what female came in such a pure coloured dress to a demon celebration..? "I would appreciate it," she smiled to him slightly, and he could see lines of exhaustion beside her bright, golden eyes. There wasn't anything special about the girl, to a human, her hair may seem odd, but to a demon, the odd colors were merely a show of aptitude.. Beauty, even.. She had pale-ish skin, and a light dusting of freckles.. Though that was sort of new.. He'd never met a demoness with freckles.. Females usually prefered completely clear complexions, if not for intentional beauty marks.. "Shall we..?" he held out his arm gallantly with his feet poised beneath him, his expression much more bright and charming. This woman was piquing his interest.. And to an incubi… Curiosity was nearly as harmful as a feline's..

Natasha slipped her arm through his with a sigh of relief, allowing her dress to billow behind her as they walked, the waves of white silk sliding against her legs and flowing around them almost like a cloud. Natasha felt him chuckle beneath her hold, but when they'd started to actually move through the hallway, the door didn't move farther back, instead, staying in place until they'd actually walked the fifty meters to get to it. Jax shot her a grin, and she nodded, watching as he used his hand to push the door open smoothly, holding it open with one arm while the other folded over his chest, giving her a slight bow at her look of confusion, the bright yellow light from inside irrelevant compared to his sudden subservient attitude.

"After you," he spoke politely, and she hesitated, before wringing her hands in front of her, "Will.. you be coming..?" He darted his eyes up to her quickly, gauging her expression, before offering her a slight smile, "If that is what you wish, I will remain your escort." "Please," she nodded, sighing in relief when he'd taken her arm again, and lead her into the light, the door slowly clicking shut behind them.

The room as filled with clustered of colorfully and darkly dressed adults and young adolescents.. As well as a few age-wary looking people.. No children.. About four hundred or so, if she were to make a guess.. There were circular tables placed in a strategic pattern around the room, the white tablecloths lied out with crystal dishes, goblets, and bright, blood red roses in large bouquets. The majority of the people were standing in gossip circles, socializing with one another with varying levels of laughter, conspiratorial whispers, and the, more often than she'd prefer, sexual flirting.. Eww…

The room was covered in large sconces of golden fire, an enormous crystal chandelier spinning lovely above everyone's heads. At the farthermost end of the room of the door, a platform sat about eight feet above the main black marble floors, a large, throne-like seat of red velvet, and animals furs sitting imposingly and regally in the center, a pair of blood red curtains behind it drawn back with golden ropes and gleaming tassels, showing off a large three meter sized painting of who she could only assumed to be Bao, due to the face structure and obvious glowing red eyes. Talk about morbid.. She physically shuddered when several pairs of eyes snapped to them, and she nearly clung to the boy's arm like a lifeline, her back ramrod straight and her shoulders a hair away from trembling. "You alright..?" the male's soft voice cut into her silent panic, and she flashed him a quick, forced smile, "Never better.. So.."

Her words trailed off as she tried to come up with some sort of conversation, but when he was only met with tense silence, Jax smiled, internally sighing before he lead her toward one of the many tables surrounding the room, this one covered from end to end, like the majority of the rest, with all types of different foods.. Some from her world.. Others looking so ridiculous, that they looked to belong to a child's drawing book.. A purple and pink striped hourglass fruit..?

"You should try the fruit," he offered casually, his voice lowered, but cool enough not to be intimidating, "There's also wines, and other liquors.." "Is there.. Is there any milk..?" He blinked at her slowly, trying to gauge if she were being serious, and, seeing no deception on her face, tilted his head, before nodding, waving his hand briefly into the air. As if summoned, a human-like creature, with an eighteenth century butler's suit, complete with a cravat and gloves, and a large pair of silvery-green ram horns, appeared almost out of thin air, holding a silver tray delicately in one hand, lowering it just enough for it to be in front of her.

She hesitated, before taking a single champagne flute, sniffing at the rim of the glass, before taking a mouthful of the white liquid, and sighing in relief. She really needed to calm down.. "Is it to your tastes?" he asked politely, grinning when she gave him a small, thankful smile. "Yes, thank you, Jax.." she nodded, patting his arm slightly to assure him before taking another calming sip.

"So.." she murmured after a few moments, the eyes on the back of her head unrelenting as Jax began to lead her in a slow, casual walk toward an empty table a few paces away, "Has.. uh.. Has anyone ever seen this, "Natasha"-person..?" He seemed startled by her question, the grip on her hand momentary tightening in warning, though it wasn't a threatening-type-of-way.. "Keep your voice low.. She is Lady Natasha to us.. Sir Bao would have our necks for so much as breathing otherwise.."

Was this woman raised in a pauper's den…? That or she's extraordinarily sheltered...

"Right, right.." she murmured noncommittally, before taking the seat he gently pulled out for her, before sitting beside her, at an angle so they were casually facing one another. "So, has anyone met this woman..?" "Sir Bao has," he nodded, his smile warm and teasing, "He says she is extraordinarily exotic.. But off limits.." Well I would fucking hope so.. The female internally seethed, tossing back the rest of her milk delicately before setting the glass down, and appraising the room with her eyes. "So.. what exactly is the point of this gathering..?"

Jax perked up immediately, and he clasped his hands to his chest in obvious delight, "Oh~! That's the best part-! Master is going to propose to Lady Natasha so she may-" Natasha choked on literal air, her eyes wide as she stared at him in complete shock. He had reaching over to pat her back comfortingly, an expression of sympathy on his face. She's probably one of the females after Sir Bao..

"Does.. Does this.. Lady Natasha, person..?" she started slowly, to convey her utter confusion, "Does she know about the proposal..?" "Oh no," Jax shook his head immediately from side to side, his big fuchsia eyes appearing almost puppy-like as he perched in his seat delicately, "Master has expressed utmost importance that it remain a secret. He is one for large romantic gestures.." He smiled fondly to the air, then, and she could almost imagine this guy as a fanboi.. Dear god…

"That's.. Sort of smart.." she admit after a few moments, tapping her thumb gently to her lip, "If she'd known about the proposal, she'd never come.." Jax gasped a little, his expression conveying his utter disbelief, "But.. but why..? Master is.." "A pervert," she lifted up a fist, and began ticking off her fingers, each word giving Jax a slight flinch.

"A hypocrite."

Flinch.

"A narcissist."

Twitch.

"An egomaniac."

Jerk.

"A manipulator- and a creep."

Crack.

Natasha glanced over to see Jax practically dead on the table, his eyes wide and his jaw slack, staring at the woman as if she were an apparition with several heads, spare limbs, and speaking a foreign tongue, his face pale as he tried to understand the situation. A smaller voice in the back of his head demanded that he defend his master's honor, while a larger, more prominent forethought, wondered about this female's mental conditions.. If she were raised elsewhere with different manners or if she were truly mad.. Both had a near equal possibility...

A loud clamour suddenly came from the crowds of demons around the room, the whispers muted but loud enough to detect excitement. Natasha turned her body slightly toward the commotion, but Jax had completely perked up, his fuchsia eyes shining brightly as he stood, and made a sort of bow toward the front doorway, a large number of the males doing the same around the room, others who bowed their heads, and every female rising to give an elegant curtsy. Natasha stood as well, listening to a chorus of hidden trumpets play an entry tune, before the doors were pulled open by two shorter demon boys, each in waistcoats and knee-length shorts, as well as a pair of hair-colour-coordinated cat ears and sleek tails.. Not a bad combination, actually.. Kind of cute...

A pair of footmen scurried through the door, and cut through the crowd directly toward the throne, the throngs of bodies parting like the Red sea in their wake. There was immediate silence, and all eyes watched as a tall, lean figure dressed in black leathers, and dark animal skins entered the room.. His hair was the color of ink, and pooled around his shoulders in slight waves. He was fair skinned, with a straight nose, blood eyes, and two, small fangs bites in his lower lip. It took her a moment to actually figure out that this guy was Bao.. I mean.. Come on.. He did not clean himself up that well when he 'talked' to her… The jerk...

His steps were slow, and smooth, his overall gait confident and relaxed as the silent room filled with his footfalls. One could nearly hear his breathing in the silence. Everyone, except for Natasha, remained bowed or curtsied until he passed, having immediately ducked beneath the table at recognition and found herself in a comfortable ball beneath the floor length pristine tablecloth.

Bao took a slow, leisurely look around the room once he had reached his platform, the polite applause of the guests rising, then gradually lowering when he cleared his throat.

Natasha grit her teeth as she clenched her fingers, wishing for something hard to bite on. Almost instantly, she felt her lips part, and a hard, smooth surface lock between her teeth. Out of reflex, she bit down, and, feeling slight pain, reached up to pull the object immediately away from her mouth. She gazed down at the medical stick slowly, her brain working nearly a mile a minute as she processed the information, before a slow, creeping, cruel smile curved around her mouth, and she snapped it in half, gripping the pieces in sadistic pleasure.. Looks like playtime came a bit early..